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Did Norman Vincent Peale unknowingly suffer from this?

Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is defined by the American Psychiatric Association as a personality disorder characterized by a pattern of excessive attention-seeking emotions, usually beginning in early adulthood, including inappropriately seductive behavior and an excessive need for approval. Histrionic people are lively, dramatic, vivacious, enthusiastic, and flirtatious. HPD affects four times as many women as men.[1] It has a prevalence of 2–3% in the general population and 10–15% in inpatient and outpatient mental health institutions.[2](Wikipedia Definition)

HPD lies in the dramatic cluster of personality disorders.[3] People with HPD have a high need for attention, make loud and inappropriate appearances, exaggerate their behaviors and emotions, and crave stimulation.[3] They may exhibit sexually provocative behavior, express strong emotions with an impressionistic style, and can be easily influenced by others. Associated features include egocentrism, self-indulgence, continuous longing for appreciation, and persistent manipulative behavior to achieve their own needs. (Wikipedia Definition)

Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is defined by the American Psychiatric Association as a personality disorder characterized by a pattern of excessive attention-seeking emotions, usually beginning in early adulthood, including inappropriately seductive behavior and an excessive need for approval. Histrionic people are lively, dramatic, vivacious, enthusiastic, and flirtatious. HPD affects four times as many women as men.[1] It has a prevalence of 2–3% in the general population and 10–15% in inpatient and outpatient mental health institutions.[2]

HPD lies in the dramatic cluster of personality disorders.[3] People with HPD have a high need for attention, make loud and inappropriate appearances, exaggerate their behaviors and emotions, and crave stimulation.[3] They may exhibit sexually provocative behavior, express strong emotions with an impressionistic style, and can be easily influenced by others. Associated features include egocentrism, self-indulgence, continuous longing for appreciation, and persistent manipulative behavior to achieve their own needs. (Wikipedia Definition)

It seems to be a common trait in leaders in every field – but perhaps not always as extreme as Trump.

In Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, he frequently mentions the ‘reality distortion field’ that surrounded Jobs and with which he seemed to be able to bend everything and everybody to his world view.

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

One of George Bernard Shaw’s Maxims for Revolutionists.

I think this sort of phenomenon is best explained by a kind of lateral thinking. Perhaps focusing on a goal to the exclusion of all other things makes us more likely to spot any opportunities or coincidences that might lead towards that goal, allowing us to better exploit them.

As we can see from your story the magic formula of positive thinking – does work. But only when we will push our life in directions we want to achieve. Actively!

I didn’t read the book you mentioned but I read wishy-washy “The Law of Attraction” that the author could actually explain in 2 pages (but then who would buy it?!) or Skip Ross’s “Dynamic Living” audio seminars. That one had a very positive impact on me. I guess is because of the charisma Skip presents. Before I wouldn’t even think I could run my business. In a different country. Starting life from literal “zero”.

The positive thinking does work but only when we do something about it, instead of watching submissively.